Folding saw table



Jan. 18, 1966 c. PARMELEE 3,229,735

FOLDING SAW TABLE Filed Dec. 19, 1963 lnvenfor:

Theron C.Parme/ee Bil: W

United States Patent 3,229,735 FOLDING SAW TABLE Theron C. Parrnelee, P.0. Box 163, Simsbury, Conn. Filed Dec. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 331,837 7 Claims. (Cl. 143-132 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in saw tables of the general type used by carpenters on construction work, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a portable, foldable saw table which may be quickly and easily erected by one man for instant use, which may be folded with equal expediency, and which in a compactly folded form may be conveniently carried or transported from one location to another, as for example, in the trunk of an automobile.

Another feature of the invention resides in its adaptability for use in conjunction with a conventional motordriven hand saw, the table having adjustable guide means both for cross cutting and for ripping the work.

Other features of the invention reside in its simple construction, in its durability, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

Wth the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a saw table in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary underside plan view of the table top; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective detail of the releasable leg locking means.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the folding saw table in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral and embodies in its construction a foldable leg structure 11 on which is supported a removable table top 12.

The leg structure 11 comprises two pairs of leg members 13, 14, the leg members or legs in each pair being transversely spaced, as shown in FIGURE 3. The legs 13 are connected together by transverse braces 15 which extend between the legs and abut the opposing inner surfaces of the legs, as illustrated. The legs 14 are similarly connected together by transverse braces 16 which abut the outer longitudinal side edges of the legs 14, as is best shown in FIGURE 2. The two pairs of legs are crossed and pivotally connected together as at 17 at their point of crossing, so that the leg structure may be folded and unfolded, as will be readily apparent.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4 which shows the underside of the top 12, two pairs of sockets 18, 19 are secured to the underside of the top adjacent its side edges 20. The sockets 19 are U-shaped with closed outer ends and open inner ends, and removably receive therein the upper ends of the legs 14 when the top 12 is positioned on the leg structure 11. The sockets 18 are L-shaped with closed outer ends, open inner ends and open sides, and removably receive the upper ends of the legs 13. Although the sockets 18 may be U-shaped as are the sockets 19, the open-sided arrangement of the L-shaped sockets 18 makes it easier for the legs 13 to be placed therein, after the legs 14 have been placed in the sockets 19.

It will be apparent that when the top 12 is in position on the leg structure 11, the closed outer ends of the sockets 18, 19 will abut the legs 13, 14, respectively, and will thus limit the extent of unfolding movement of the "ice legs, in other words, the sockets will prevent the legs from spreading beyond a predetermined limit, for example, beyond the position shown in FIGURE 2. In addition, means are provided for locking the legs against folding, these means comprising a pair of latches 20 which are pivoted as at 21 to blocks 22 aifixed to the legs 14. The blocks 22 are coplanar with the legs 14 and the latches 20 are pivoted to the inside surfaces of the blocks so that they are coplanar with the legs 13 which are pivoted to the inside surfaces of the legs 14 at 17. The free end portions of the latches 20 are received in notches 23 formed in the legs 13, whereby the leg structure is releasably locked in its unfolded or erected form. Of course, by simply disengaging the latches from the notches, the leg structure may be folded so that the legs 13 and 14 are coplanar and the latches 20 are unobtrusively disposed adjacent the legs 13.

The table top 12 is provided with a removable panel 24 which is held in place in any suitable manner and is formed with a slot 25 to accommodate the circular blade 26 of a conventional motor-driven hand saw (not shown), which may be mounted below the table top in any suitable manner. It will be noted that the slot 25 extends at right angles to the side edges 20 of the top.

The top 12 is provided in its upper surface with a groove 27 in parallel with the slot 25, and a work guide 28 is slidably adjustable in the groove. The work'guide 28 includes an angularly adjustable portion 29, against which a piece of work (not shown) may be positioned while being cross cut or angle cut by the blade 26.

An additional work guide 30 is provided for use in ripping the work. The guide 30 consists of a pair of parallel bars 31 which are juxtaposed to the side edges 20 of the top in coplanar relation therewith and are longitudinally slidable in a tongue-and-groove connection indicated at 32. The bars 31 project longitudinally beyond the table top and are rigidly connected together at the projecting ends thereof by a guide member 33 having a work guiding edge 34 which is parallel to the saw slot 25, so that work guided by the edge 34 may be ripped by the saw. It will be noted that by sliding the bars 31 along the table top edges 20, the guide member 33 may be moved toward and away from the saw slot, even to a position where the member 33 overlies the table top itself. Of course, the cross cut guide 28, 29 is removed from the table top when ripping work is to be done.

Means are provided for releasably locking the work guide 30 in an adjusted position, these means comprising a cross strap 35 which extends under the table top 12 and under the bars 31, being movably attached to the table top by bolts or screws 36 extending through longitudinal slots 37 in the strap. One end portion of the strap 35 has secured thereto a fixed shoe 38, while a movable shoe 39 is mounted on the other end portion of the strap by a slot and screw connection 40. The shoes 38, 39 engage the outer side edges of the bars 31 and may be frictionally urged thereagainst by the action of a cam 41 which is pivotally mounted on the strap 35 so as to engage the movable shoe 39. When the cam is moved to its locking position, the shoes 38, 39 are pressed against the bars 31 and the latter in turn are pressed against the side edges 20 of the table top 12, thus locking the work guide 30 in a predetermined set position relative to the saw blade.

When the saw table is not being used, the table top may be readily separated from the leg structure and the latter folded as already explained, so that the entire device may be easily and unobtrusively carried, transported, or stored.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure, and various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the spirit and scope of the in vention as claimed- What is-'claime'd as new is:

1. In a saw table, the combination of a table top having a pair of parallel side edges and provided at right angles to said edges with a slot adapted to have a saw blade projecting therethrough, awork ripping guide comprising apair of spacedparallel'bars juxtaposed to said side edges-in coplanar relation with the topand projecting l'ongitudinally beyond the top, a guide 'member rigidly secured to the-projecting end portions of said bars and having aguiding-edge'parallel to said slot, said guide bars being slidable on said si de edges of said top whereby said guide member may be moved toward and away from said slot, and-means for releasably clamping 'said guide bars against said side edges.

2.;The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said clamping means comprise a cross strap extending under said 'table top and under'said'guide bars, means movably attaching said cross strap to the underside of the top, a fixed shoe secured to one end portion of said strap and engaging one of said guide bars, a movable shoe mounted on the other end portion of the strap and engaging the other guide bar, and cam means on said strap in engagement sideedges in coplanar relation with the top, a guide member rigidly secured to said bars and having a guiding 4 edge parallel to said slot, said guide bars being slidable on said side edges of said top whereby said guide member may be moved toward and away from said slot, and means for releasably clamping said guide bars against said side edges.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said clamping mean's'comprise a cross strap extending across said table top and guide bars, a fixed shoe secured to one end of said cross strap and engaging one of said guide bars, a movable shoe mounted on the other end portion of the strap and engaging the other guide bar, and cam means on said strap in engagement with said movable shoe.

6. The device as defined in claim 4 together with coacting tongue and groove means provided at said side edges of said top and at said guide bars.

7. In a saw table, the combination of a table top hav ing a pair of parallel side edges and provided at right angles to said edges with a slot adapted to have a saw blade projecting therethrough, a work ripping guide comprising a pair'of spaced .parallel bars juxtaposed'to and slidable along said side'edg'es in coplanar relation with the top, 'a guide member secured at its ends to said guide bars and disposed in a plane above said top whereby it may move over the top when said guide bars are slid along said side edges, said guide member having a guiding edge parallel to said slot, andmea'ns for releasably clampingsaid guide bars against said side edges.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 393,339 11/1888 Morgan 108157 X 1,835,661 12/1931 Marquardt 108157 2,974,696 3/1961 Dorsey et a1 143-5 X WILLIAM W. DYER,'.TR., Primary Examiner.

WAYMOND D. BRAY, Examiner. 

1. IN A SAW TABLE, THE COMBINATION OF A TABLE TOP HAVING A PAIR OF PARALLEL SIDE EDGES AND PROVIDED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID EDGES WITH A SLOT ADAPTED TO HAVE A SAW BLADE PROJECTING THERETHROUGH, A WORK RIPPING GUIDE COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL BARS JUXTAPOSED TO SAID SIDE EDGES IN COPLANAR RELATION WITH THE TOP AND PROJECTING LONGITUDINALLY BEYOND THE TOP, A GUIDE MEMBER RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE PROJECTING END PORTIONS OF SAID BARS AND HAVING A GUIDING EDGE PARALLEL TO SAID SLOT, SAID GUIDE BARS BEING SLIDABLE ON SAID SIDE EDGES OF SAID TOP WHEREBY SAID GUIDE MEMBER MAY BE MOVED TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SLOT, AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY CLAMPING SAID GUIDE BARS AGAINST SAID SIDE EDGES. 